Passenger Terminal Amsterdam Appoints Dick de Graaff as New Director
Dick de Graaff, MA (48) has been appointed the new Director of Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) effective 1 January 2019. He is succeeding René Kouwenberg who will retire on the same date.PTA, which coordinates the efficient processing of cruise ships and receives their passengers, said that De Graaff is very familiar with the cruise sector and knows the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam inside and out."He has served as PTA’s Commercial Director since December 2004 and in this role has been responsible for the growth in the number of cruise calls and for operating the passenger terminal as a venue for trade fairs and events," he said.Together with Kouwenberg and his team he achieved that PTA won the 2016 Port of the Year Award, the Oscar in the cruise world.
Mazloum Heads Crystal Cruises’ Fleet Ops
Thomas Mazloum has been promoted to Crystal Cruises’ senior vice president, operations. Mazloum, who has served as Crystal’s senior vice president, hotel operations, since 2003 assumed the responsibilities for the fleet’s marine operations this month with the March 31 retirement of Joe Valenti, Crystal’s senior vice president, marine operations. As head of hotel operations for Crystal Cruises, Mazloum’s responsibilities include the supervision of Crystal’s food and beverage, entertainment, quality assurance, land programs, service training, onboard guest services and profit centers, and purchasing department. In Mazloum’s new role he will also oversee the ships’ technical and nautical operations, regulatory compliance, safety and security, environmental stewardship, and seagoing personnel.
Where Everyone is A Celebrity
That is the basic business principle that has sustained Dietmar Wertanzl, senior VP of Fleet operations for Celebrity Cruises, since he began his career with the industry in the late 1970's. Not even 30-years old, Wertanzl began on what was then known as Norwegian America Line's Vistafjord as a dining room steward, so swept up by the magic of sea travel. Wertanzl's philosophy is simple. Treat your employees and customers the way that you would want to be treated. He always falls back on this simple notion: In order to run a successful fleet — from both the hospitality and technical end — everyone must work together to educate one another.
